A 12-year-old Japanese girl was named one of nine "Heroes for the Planet" by Time magazine for coming up with an innovative way to clean up after a dog: a disposable pooper-scooper made from an empty milk carton.

Haruka Maruno of Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture, came up with the idea of using a milk carton after she had to pick up dung with her hands while walking her dog, Patrick, three years ago. "It was gross," Time quoted her as recounting the incident.

"Haruka's Paperscoop" got a special award at a local exhibition of inventions, and her dad, Isamu, who runs a design office, helped her commercialize the idea by helping her set up her own company, Haruka Family, in the spring of 1998.

Her pooper-scooper is Earth-friendly. When thrown away, it would break into dirt instead of taking up space in a landfill," said Time's April 17, 2000, special edition for Earth Day.

Because of her innovative idea and the scoop's market success, Haruka was asked to represent Japan at a United Nations-sponsored children's conference on the environment in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 1998. Japanese organizers for the meeting said that while children usually get involved in environmental activities by collecting thrown-away cans and other reusable materials, Haruka's activities are quite unique. An eco-business run by a kid isn't so common either, even in other countries, they said.

Five other Japanese kids attended the conference which covered such topics as endangered wild animals, garbage, and recycling activities. The meeting was aimed at showing kids the importance of preserving the Earth's environment.

Now a seventh grader, Haruka's latest invention is a portable ashtray made of recycled paper and charcoal.

Photos (from top): Haruka and her parents at a Time ceremony honoring her and other heros; the inventor's hit product. (© Haruka Maruno)